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en-usCopyright 2015 AOL Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Ben Drawbaugh and Richard LawlerWe regard the Engadget HD Podcast as the high-water mark when it comes to HD news and opinion. The EHD team works tirelessly to bring you the best in all things home theater, and their podcast is certainly no exception. Hear from Richard Lawler and Ben Drawbaugh as they explore the full gamut of displays, set tops, and everything else under the HD sun. Every show is jam-packed with information, entertainment, and a healthy dose of love, so make sure you hear them all.http://www.engadget.com/2014/06/18/engadget-hd-podcast-402/?utm_source=RSS_Mp3_Hd&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget
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A short time ago, your hosts Ben Drawbaugh and Richard Lawler celebrated the 400th episode of the Engadget HD Podcast and it was a milestone achievement. After this week, however, the show will be on hiatus as we re-envision the future of how we deliver HD and other news beyond the website proper. That doesn't mean we haven't packed in a ton of info into this week's episode, however. The FCC has decided to step in to offer support for municipal broadband and to review the situation between Netflix and ISPs like Comcast and Verizon. A new Slingbox is hitting the market and Comcast's Xfinity router seems to have developed WiFi capabilities. Of course, it wouldn't be a podcast without your hosts quibbling about the merits of Michael Bay or Ben giving us some info about either the Lego Movie or the brand's latest game. If you chose to watch last night's episode of Fargo instead of listening to the podcast live, we forgive you. But please join us for this week's edition of the Engadget HD Podcast at the streaming links below. At least for now, we'll all have a bit more time for HDTV!

Has it been two weeks since we last saw you? Yep, but audio-file-munching software systems couldn't keep us away this week, so get ready. There are piles of console related tidbits on top of E3 this week, with Sony launching its PlayStation TV device in the US and Microsoft's Xbox One getting dis-Kinect-ed from it's once-bundled sensor peripheral. Verizon and Netflix are at it again, playing the streaming slowdown blame game and Apple wants to improve audio quality by letting its proprietary Lightning port step in for headphone duty. There's also a ton of shows to see this week, but Ben's been too busy checking out the technology at Disney World to make a dent in his DVR queue. All this and much more is ready for your ears, so head to the streaming links below to join us for another episode of the Engadget HD Podcast!

Welcome to the 400th HD Podcast! Similar words were typed back in February 2006, when the fledgling HDBeat Podcast was launched, with a slightly younger Ben Drawbaugh at the helm. Richard is no slouch himself, having racked up over 200 episodes in the series, and we're also joined by former editor and HD host Steve Kim, who has a habit of dropping in on these occasions. The crew does some reminiscing, but won't be stopped from getting down to the details that have kept this show afloat for so long. There's discussion of Cox's gigabit internet rollout, Google Fiber's business plan and Amazon's Fire TV deal, which Steve is pressured into acknowledging as a must-have deal. Richard has some tips to keep your classic Xbox 360 in top shape, but it somehow manages to dredge up memories of the unending flow of quarters which Donkey Kong and its arcade brethren used to command. Please join us for this quadricentennial celebration of the Engadget HD Podcast and its nostalgic look at how far things have come since this all began.

Things are heating up in the HD world this week, but definitely not enough to cook a pizza properly. AT&T is making a bid to buy DirecTV for a hefty sum, unless the company's NFL Sunday Ticket portion doesn't pan out, leaving them with an escape clause. Other deals afoot include the Comcast and Time Warner Cable merger, both of which are some of the most hated names in the industry. As for Pioneer's beloved Kuro displays, it seems Ben's had one in his home for longer than he's willing to believe, leaving him in a nostalgic lurch. This gives Richard a chance to dish out all the new content that's popped up on Hulu Plus and run down some Must See HDTV -- don't worry, no Game of Thrones spoilers. As always, there's a ton of info to feed your brain with, so click on down to the streaming links and join us for this week's episode!

Yep, there's more net neutrality talk this week, but look on the bright side: at least Eastbound & Down has arrived on Blu-ray. But it doesn't take a major leaguer to throw a curveball, as exemplified by Netflix's one dollar price hike for all its subscribers. The upside? If you're an existing customer, you get a two-year grace period on that increase. NBC is also upping the ante, but its all about locking in Olympics broadcast coverage until 2032 to the tune of $7.65 billion. While some things are looking to the future, this week also brought about a slew of TV finales, including the less-than-triumphant return of Cleveland Brown to Family Guy after his own show got canned. All this and more can be found amongst the informed chatter on this week's Engadget HD Podcast, conveniently served up at the streaming links below.

Stories about net neutrality and slowed connectivity continue to surface, and the FCC chairman has made it clear that preferential treatment will not be tolerated. In other news, merger mayhem continues with AT&T rumored to be buying DirectTV, and Cox may join the gigabit internet club. Ben and Richard do their best to sift through this towering mess of info and cut through the nonsense. But confusion abounds, with theatrical film releases bleeding into home viewing as Moviefone decides to add TV listings to its service and the CEO of Dreamworks is predicting a faster turnaround from cinemas to consumer purchases -- sometime in the next ten years, that is. You should definitely squeeze some time into your TV schedule for this week's episode, although we do know your DVR only has so much space.

Net neutrality is still on the table for discussion this week and FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler even wants to hear your opinion on the situation. Ben and Richard share their two cents on the issue and continue to cover all the cozying up between companies including ISPs and content providers. Hulu, on the other hand, is exhibiting some self control and cracking down on international viewers who are sneaking a peek via VPNs. And those who haven't been streaming or watching TV at all lately may have missed Neil deGrasse Tyson's informative Cosmos reboot. But have no fear, if you prefer the offline experience of physical discs, it will soon be arriving to Blu-ray and DVD. If it's enlightenment you're after, then you've come to the right place. We've got all this and more on this week's episode of the Engadget HD Podcast!

Let's just cut to the chase: Aereo's battle with broadcast TV hit the Supreme Court this week and it's one of the biggest entertainment-related court confrontations since the Betamax case in 1984. Confusion levels have been high, but Ben and Richard are your legal eagles and they break the situation down into its simplest terms. Time Warner Cable recently announced a potential money-saving alternative to cable box leasing, with its $99 set-top box that will stream cable TV and internet video. Netflix, on the other hand, has stated that it will raise its prices for new customers, although it's giving existing users a two-year grace period. There's a heap of HD news to run though this week, so you'll have to tune in to catch it all. Just head down to the streaming links below for this week's episode of the Engadget HD Podcast.

If you can't make it camping this year, perhaps Sir David Attenborough's upcoming wildlife TV project in VR will suffice. And for immersion in something with fewer dimensional dynamics, maybe Sony's lineup of 4K TVs will fit the bill. Yes, it's been a relatively slow week for HD, but Richard and Ben need a breather since Chromecast, Aereo and so many others keep dropping news bombs on a regular basis. Richard's been so busy lately that Must See TV recommendations are at a minimum, but Ben shares an interesting DirecTV ad to keep your eyeballs busy. So, please join us at the streaming links below, as we serve up another entertaining and informative episode of the Engadget HD Podcast.

HD news seems to be tumbling out of the sky like big, fat, high-definitionraindrops and we've got it all covered in this week's episode. Both Richard and Ben have spent some time with Amazon's Fire TV and now that they've gotten past the unskippable tutorial video, they're ready to share their opinions. Richard also took some time to catch some of the Comcast and Time Warner Cable hearing on C-Span in all its standard definition glory and Ben's just recovering after learning there's yet another Lego videogame that he'll have to tackle -- he hasn't even finished the last one yet. This week's Engadget HD Podcast is chock full of info, so settle in and head to the streaming links below to catch the show.

If you have a dozen shows that always seem to overlap and you just can't bear to miss any of them, then Verizon may have just the thing. Its FiOS Media Server has arrived under the name Quantum TV DVR and it's ready to make you master of your multi-room domain. With this week's announcements, some casual competition arises between your hosts regarding the details on what Amazon will (did) release -- congratulations Richard -- and the company has locked in season two of Alpha House, along with six other new shows to satisfy your TV jones. The crew also flashes back to the OG Slingbox and provides you with a pile of Must See HDTV for the week. So grab a seat and head on down to the streaming links below to join us for this week's edition of the Engadget HD Podcast.

Keeping it real used to be the goal, but now it seems that real reality just isn't that interesting anymore. Virtual reality, on the other hand, that's taken the tech world by storm lately. Both Sony and Oculus demoed their latest VR wares at GDC last week, and this week Facebook decided to drop some big news. The social network has just purchased Oculus VR for a whopping $2 billion. Ben and Richard dig into the positive and potentially negative aspects of this deal and what it could mean for the future. On top of that, Netflix decides to pay ISP tolls for its heavy bandwidth use, while AT&T feels that these things are really the subscribers' problem. It's a complicated web of news these days, but luckily you have the Engadget HD Podcast to help break it down into a more digestible format.

Streaming services, set-top boxes and dongles are dominating HD news this week, and there's quite a few to discuss. Rumors are bubbling up about more Amazon hardware to match the competition's offerings and Chromecast continues to make headlines with the international roll out of its diminutive device. Surprisingly, Richard isn't going on about March Madness and Ben is lukewarm about the arrival of an ACC Sports channel for Apple TV. Signs of the robopocalypse perhaps? We hope not, since there's plenty of Titanfall still to play and the Xbox One was catching up to PlayStation 4 sales numbers. Keep in mind that Microsoft has only just decided to take its console global. We've got plenty in store and its all packed into this episode of the Engadget HD Podcast, conveniently located at the streaming links below.

If theTitanfall release had coincided with the start of March Madness, there probably wouldn't have been a podcast this week. As it is, we had to tear Richard away from his Xbox One to help Ben review the HD details that have been pouring in. There's a constant shuffle of content, ISP deals and updates to go through, as well as a certain monstrous LED-lit HD display to ogle. Your hosts leverage their experience and know-how to help speed you through the week's news, leaving some extra time to watch some TV. We hear Neil deGrasse Tyson and Seth MacFarlane's reboot of Cosmos has gotten some great buzz and rated an introduction by the POTUS. As always, there's plenty of HD to go around, so head on down to the streaming links to join us for this weeks episode.

It's the week of HD content news in its many various guises: streaming, video, award shows and service cancellations, all wedged in amidst a couple of physical devices. Actually, the hardware is content-enabling as well, with the new Roku Streaming Stick and an N64 mod that gives your classic gear an HDMI upgrade. Ben and Richard get their wish with Netflix's experiments in sleep tracking (courtesy of a Fitbit) and Microsoft continues to fine tune the Xbox One with updates in audio, Kinect options and a UK glitch fix. Just hop on down to the streaming links to enjoy this episode of the Engadget HD Podcast in all its informational glory.

The HD news heap has reached a toppling point, so Ben and Richard get to work sifting through all the insanity from the past week. One of the major talking points is the streaming bottleneck of Netflix's content on various service providers. This prompts Ben to provide an overview of the labyrinthine inner workings of the internet, a tall task for anyone to attempt. In another bold move, Disney Movies Anywhere service launched recently with iTunes on board to help deliver some of its content. There's definitely some twists and turns, so head to the streaming links below for a bit of navigational assistance on this week's episode of the Engadget HD Podcast.

Updates, apps and mergers are piling up as we head deeper into 2014, leaving little room for idle chatter as Ben and Richard get down to business. The Comcast and Time Warner Cable deal is still reverberating through the news and it's dovetailing with yet another Apple TV rumor. Google's giving Chromecast apps the green light following a period of Android device updates and AllCast has a few new tricks up its sleeve for Mountain View's dongle. Showtime hits Roku, Jimmy Fallon's The Tonight Show gets companion apps and Netflix adds new seasons to its stable of shows. The Engadget HD Podcast is dropping some science this week, so be sure to tune in at the streaming links below.

Olympic fever is gripping the nation, but Ben seems immune. Perhaps he hasn't discovered short track speed skating, a sport that Richard enjoys for its Michael Bay-like pace and frequent wipeouts. Comcast is even delivering its online coverage of the action in Sochi to its Xfinity TV subscribers, and the wintry sport is dominating prime time slots across the board, leaving Must See TV content a bit sparse. The one thing that is burgeoning, though, is the Xbox One's upcoming content projects. With Bonnaroo concert access from your couch and an exclusive Nas biography series in the works, things are looking up for Microsoft's new console. All this and more is packed into this week's edition of the Engadget HD Podcast, so settle in and head to the streaming links for a piece of the action.

While the Northeast is suffering through some heavy weather, Ben is getting ready to enjoy Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 on Blu-ray, from a significantly sunnier locale. Regardless of your local forecast though, there's definitely a deluge of HD news and content to catch up on. After all, the recent Superbowl pulled in a live streaming record and was a testbed for NFL content services, which didn't necessarily make the grade for cord-cutting football fans. There's plenty in store this week, so don't miss out. Just head on down to the streaming links below for this week's episode of the Engadget HD Podcast.

The rumor mill has been grinding away this week, providing juicy bits of Apple and Amazon news for Ben and Richard to chew on. Netflix also announces its new 'post-play' feature, which prompts the crew to request a sleep detection feature. While a Kinect-type solution may seem invasive, it would be great for knowing when you konk out so it could stop episode playback. You won't be catching any Zs during this show, however, with Q4 updates on major manufacturers, discussion about the upcoming Super Bowl and the Fantasy Football league results. So hop on down to the streaming links below to catch the latest episode of the Engadget HD Podcast.

It's that time of year again, CES is fading from memory, football season is wrapping up and Ben is tempted to cut the cable cord with less of his favorite sports programming on the air. The lull in pigskin-based TV probably doesn't have much to do with reports of declining subscribers for premium channels, but with content like Netflix's oscar-nominated documentaryThe Square, streaming services are proving to be tough competition. All this and more is packed into this week's episode; simply head to the streaming links below for another edition of the Engadget HD Podcast.

As the dust settles on the Las Vegas Convention Center, Richard and Ben regroup to take a brief look at the highlights from CES, but for the most part, there's still fresh HD news to discuss. There's been a storm brewing over at DirectTV and if you're a subscriber, you'll have to hear about it on a brand new channel, assuming you get your weather updates on TV. Netflix's Lilyhammer nabs a third season and Ben has finally come around to John Fusco's latest creation -- let's just hope it has more staying power than Young Guns II. We've got a great episode here, so find some time and dig into another informative episode of the Engadget HD Podcast.

It's time for a rundown of all the best in HD news from CES this week and it's a heckuva long list. Ben Drawbaugh joins Richard Lawler to hash it out and discuss whether 4K has matured enough to settle in for the long haul. LG, Sony, Samsung and surprisingly Vizio were among the key players this past week, providing massive screen sizes, amped-up projectors and even exhuming an old software platform for the 2014 market. Head on down to the streaming links below for all the info in this week's second installment of the HD Podcast, CES edition.

This year's CES show floor has been inundated with 4K sets, giving Richard, Michael and some surprise guests plenty to talk about. Content is a hot topic and there's plenty of 4K sources being announced, but until they arrive on the market, we're going to have to stick with Blu-rays to get the most out of all those pixels. Ultra HD is also deviating from the straight and narrow this year, with a series of curving sets, some even transitioning from flat at the touch of a button. Join us at the streaming links below as your hosts discuss the ins and outs of all this fresh tech in the first special HD Podcast of the 2014 CES.

While Ben digs into his holiday movie archive and Richard warms himself by a virtual yuletide fire, HD news continues to pour forth. The Xbox One received some post-launch updates, Dolby demoed some tech you might not have thought you needed, Google's Chromecast added more apps to its streaming quiver and Netflix announced a director for its Daredevil series. Add to that, an extensive review of Must See HDTV and some disappointing fantasy football stats, and you've got another informative episode of the HD Podcast, patiently waiting for you at the streaming links below.

It's been a relatively slow week for news due to the holiday, but there's still plenty for your hosts Ben Drawbaugh and Richard Lawler to chat about. While Sony is bragging about it's November PS4 sales, Microsoft is keeping quiet and dealing with a few compatibility issues on the UK front. Looking forward to the next round of holidays, Ben is predicting a rush on the affordable Chromecast device and Netflix is offering up a new animated series to bulk up its Christmas programming -- which it's definitely lacking. There's still plenty of football going on -- both real and imaginary -- and Richard takes a moment to lament both his fantasy picks and Michigan's ability on the field. All this and more is waiting for you at the streaming links below, so head on down for another edition of the Engadget HD Podcast.

The Xbox One has finally arrived at chez Lawler, so Richard and Ben gets things headed in Microsoft's direction right off the bat. As with the PS4, this console still could use some time in the oven, but it probably could take the heat -- its fan hasn't made a peep after days of "always on" use. This show isn't just about consoles though; LG's nefarious activities fall under scrutiny and service updates are popping up all over, including Chromecast's adoption of HBO Go. So please join us for this pre-holiday edition of the Engadget HD Podcast at the streaming links below... before your food coma sets in.

It's HD time again and your hosts Ben Drawbaugh and Richard Lawler are here to give you the weekly rundown. It won't include the Buccaneers vs. Lions results though; that happens this Sunday, with both Ben and Richard looking forward to their respective local team taking the win. For PlayStation fans, though, the score is PS4 and the consoles have arrived, regardless of a little wobble. Sling fans hit the endzone this week as well, with a host of new updates arriving on its iOS app, and a Windows 8.1 version announced for December. So while Ben regains his hearing after a recent visit to the Formula 1 track, you can fasten your seat belts and switch it to cruise control as we present the Engadget HD Podcast; conveniently located at the streaming links below.

As the launch date draws near for both the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One, our hosts Ben Drawbaugh and Richard Lawler discuss the HD potential contained within. Richard has his consoles scheduled for just-in-time delivery, rather than tempting to beat the clock like some early adopters, although game selection isn't a personal selling point. Any game would probably look incredible on a new 4K TV though and with budget-priced units starting to hit the market; having one in your living room starts to seem plausible. We have a few mobile-enabled set-top boxes to chat about as well -- if Richard can ignore Ben's jabs at the merits of Michael Bay. Whatever your HD pleasure, you've come to the right place. This week's podcast is just a click away at the streaming links below.

Your hosts Ben Drawbaugh and Richard Lawler are back after a short hiatus, and the HD-related news queue has gotten fat. This week's show begins with the end ... of Panasonic's plasma line, but that's OK as long as a 60-plus-inch 4K OLED arrives to fill the void. Jameis Winston definitely won't see those extra pixels with all his squinting, but Ben and Richard have come to the conclusion that most other people won't see them either. Ultra High Definition is possibly more about prestige at this stage than it is about clarity. That's not about to stop Netflix from rolling out UHD streams by next year, though. For the end of this year, we're beset with new gaming consoles that offer an array of streaming options as well as games, although some are more media-capable than others. So, put down the remote, turn off all of those screens (just kidding) and head to the streaming links below for another informative edition of the Engadget HD Podcast.

With this week's big keynote failing to produce any Apple TV-related products, our hosts Ben Drawbaugh and Richard Lawler are left to speculate on the reasons behind Amazon's recent stock issues with the little hockey puck. As the discussion moves over to the streaming front, U-Verse live TV arrives on Android, NVIDIA's Shield is breaking out of the small screen with its new Gamestream tech and Sky / Roku's Now TV box bundles have arrived at retail. Join us after the break for this week's episode of the Engadget HD Podcast, but you'd better hurry, before Ben gets roped into another round of Lego Star Wars.

BBC news from across the pond makes its way into the discussion this week and Ben finds out that they play more than just The Killers over there. The Twitter and Comcast deal gets hashed out, Jimmy Fallon's viral "hashtag" vid makes the rounds and we find out that last week's The Walking Dead episode was seen by quite a few people. So head on past the break to catch this week's streaming episode of Engadget's HD Podcast, before Richard disappears down the Pacific Rim rabbit hole.

If there's one thing to take away from this week's podcast it's that Ben's fantasy football picks finally performed positively. Well, that plus hints the next few months will be very interesting, thanks to HDMI 2.0 and rumors of an Amazon STB, among other topics. Get caught up on the last week in HD news by streaming this week's episode below.

CEDIA is a wrap, but Richard still has lots to recap about the show. Plus, he's got time to kill until Grand Theft Auto Online's connectivity issues get sorted. And Ben? Well, he's frustrated with his Fantasy Football picks, because they aren't operating at peak performance. Get to streaming this week's Engadget HD Podcast below.

Ben spent the last week getting used to the iPhone 5s' Touch ID, while Richard advanced his career in GTA V. Fret not, however, because they still managed to keep tabs on all the latest HD news. Set aside an hour and get caught up yourself by streaming episode 368 below.

Yes, there was notable news in HD this week, but nothing gets Richard as fired up as Fantasy Football and GTA V. Thankfully, we were able pull him away from his Xbox for an hour of recording with Ben. The Engadget HD podcast is ready for a listen below.

Are you as bummed out as Ben and Richard that no Apple TV news came out of Monday's iPhone event? No worries, because ready to fill that void are all the UHD an OLED TVs from IFA, the PS Vita TV set top box and a recap of our fantasy football league's first week in play. This week's edition of the Engadget HD podcast is ready for your ears below.

This week Ben explains why he can't get enough of Sterling Archer's commercial cameos, and Richard details the laborious process that is making his weekly Must See HDTV feature. And as always, your hosts also go over all the current and exciting HD news. Stream the Engadget HD Podcast below.

To join this year's NFL Pick 'Em League click right here. The Group # is 20040, and the password is 2013.

Excited about the new Tivo Roamio DVRs? Ben is, mainly because they're screamingly speedy and deliver out-of-home streaming. Aside from recapping his Roamio review, we also discuss the week's hottest HD stories -- including Richard's unabashed excitement for Saint's Row IV.This is the Engadget HD Podcast, and its aural delights await you below.